Outcomes of kidney, liver, and simultaneous liver and kidney transplants from hepatitis c infected donors to hepatitis c naïve recipients: A large single center experience.

BACKGROUND: With the introduction of direct-acting antiviral therapies (DAAs), the non-use rate of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive donor organs (D+) has decreased significantly. We present the donor, recipient, and transplant allograft characteristics, along with recipient outcomes, in one of the largest cohorts of HCV-D+ transplants into HCV-naïve recipients (R-). METHODS: Charts of HCV D+/R- kidney (KT), liver (LT), and simultaneous liver-kidney (SLKT) transplant recipients between January 2019 and July 2022 were reviewed. Primary outcomes of interest included waitlist times and 1-year graft failure. Secondary outcomes included hospital and intensive care unit length of stay, post-transplant complications, effectiveness of DAA therapy, and characteristics of patients who relapsed from initial DAA therapy. RESULTS: Fifty-five HCV D+/R- transplants at our center [42 KT (26 nucleic acid testing positive [NAT+], 16 NAT-), 12 LT (eight NAT+, four NAT-), and one SLKT (NAT+)] had a median waitlist time of 69 days for KT, 87 days for LT, and 15 days for SLKT. There were no graft failures at 1 year. All viremic recipients were treated with a 12-week course of DAAs, of which 100% achieved end of treatment response (EOTR)-85.7% (n = 30) achieved sustained virologic response (SVR) and 14.3% relapsed (n = 5; four KT, one LT). All relapsed recipients were retreated and achieved SVR. The most common post-transplantation complications include BK virus infection (n = 9) for KT and non-allograft infections (n = 4) for LT. CONCLUSIONS: Our study has demonstrated no graft failures or recipient deaths at 1 year, and despite a 14.3% relapse rate, we achieved 100% SVR. Complications rates of D+/R- appeared comparable to national D-/R- complication rates. Further studies comparing D+/R- to D-/R- outcomes are needed.

Treatment of Hepatitis C Post-Liver Transplantation Could Mitigate Discard Rates of Hepatitis C-Positive Deceased Donor Livers and Expand the Donor Pool.

BACKGROUND: Prior to 2014, treatment for hepatitis C was limited. However, the subsequent introduction of direct acting antiviral medications (DAA) against hepatitis C led to improvements in morbidity and better medication tolerance. DAA therapy allowed for an increase in treatment rates of hepatitis C in patients on the liver transplant waiting list. With the popularization of DAA, there became a growing concern about the utility of hepatitis C-positive (HCV+) deceased liver donors, especially after treating HCV+ potential recipients on the transplant waiting list. METHODS: This is a retrospective, observational study using Mid-America Transplant Services (MTS) database from 2008 to 2017. Comparison was made before the widespread use of DAAs 2008-2013 (pre-DAA) against their common practice use 2014-2017 (post-DAA). All deceased liver donors with HCV antibody or nucleic acid positive results were evaluated. RESULTS: Between 2008 and 2017, 96 deceased liver donors were positive for HCV. In the pre-DAA era, 47 deceased liver donors were positive for HCV, of which 32 (68.1%) were transplanted and 15 (31.9%) were discarded. In the post-DAA era, a total of 49 HCV+ organs were identified, out of which 43 (87.8%) livers were transplanted and 6 (12.2%) were discarded. Discard rate was significantly higher in the pre-DAA population (31.9% vs. 12.2%, p = 0.026). Secondary analysis showed a distinct trend towards increased regional sharing and utilization of HCV+ donors. CONCLUSION: In order to reduce discard rates of HCV+ patients, our data suggest that transplant centers could potentially delay HCV treatment in patients on the transplant waitlist.

Ocular manifestations in patients with cerebrovascular accidents in India: a cross-sectional observational study.

PURPOSE: To assess ophthalmic manifestations in patients with stroke and emphasize the importance of a formal screening for visual problems in stroke patients in hospital and rehabilitation settings. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of 50 newly diagnosed patients with stroke with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) > 8 examined within 3 days of onset. A detailed ophthalmic examination was performed for each patient including visual acuity, fields, ocular motility, slit lamp and fundus examination, line bisection tests and cranial nerve assessment. Radiological investigations were reviewed and anatomically correlated. RESULTS: A total of 50 patients (41 male and nine female) were included in the study. Mean age of the stroke cohort was 51.36 years. Twenty-nine patients (58%) had a subcortical stroke, while 42% (n = 21) patients had a cortical stroke. Nineteen patients (38%) demonstrated visual field defects. Twenty-one patients (42%) had a gaze palsy. Vertical gaze palsy (n = 8) was more common in cortical stroke, while internuclear ophthalmoplegia (n = 2), horizontal gaze palsies (n = 4) and Parinaud's syndrome (n = 1) were seen more commonly in those with subcortical stroke. Twenty-four percent (n = 12) patients had nystagmus. Twelve percent (n = 6) patients had diplopia. Thirty-eight percent (n = 19) patients had convergence insufficiency. Sixteen patients (32%) complained of visual impairment. Retinal abnormalities were seen in 58% (n = 29) of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Ophthalmic manifestations were seen in 90% of stroke survivors. Their presence in majority of the patients in our cohort suggests that earliest routine ophthalmic examination should be mandatory in all patients with acute stroke.

Influence of laser versus lens-sparing vitrectomy on myopia in children with retinopathy of prematurity.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to compare the refractive error outcomes in the eyes of premature babies with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) who underwent laser plus lens-sparing vitrectomy (LSV) in one eye and laser alone in the fellow eye. METHODS: This is a retrospective study. Fourteen babies with Stage 4A of ROP or worse who underwent laser plus LSV in one eye (Group 1) and laser alone in the fellow eye (Group 2) were followed at 2 months, 6 months, 1 year, one and a half year, and 2 years. The main outcome variable studied was cycloplegic refraction at the baseline and follow-up visits. The change in spherical and cylindrical power at each visit was compared in Groups 1 and 2. The changes in spherical equivalent in subgroups were analyzed. RESULTS: Mean gestational age at birth was 29.43 ± 2.10 weeks (range 26-32 weeks). Mean chronological age at the time of surgery was 4.11 ± 3.00 months (range 2-10 months). Mean postmenstrual age was 45.86 ± 12.13 weeks (range 39-75 weeks). Mean birth weight was 1340.71 ± 361.59 g (range 860-1980 g). All the babies in both groups had progressive myopia till 2 years follow-up; laser group had less myopia than LSV group till 1 year, thereafter, there was no difference in median till 2-year follow-up. The mean ± standard deviation of spherical equivalent in LSV versus laser group was: -4.36 ± 5.52 versus -3.21 ± 4.59 at 2 months; -5.09 ± 5.82 versus -4.04 ± 4.68 at 6 months; -7.14 ± 5.36 versus -5.36 ± 5.09 at 1 year; and -7.47 ± 1.38 versus -6.41 ± 1.91 at 2 years. Spherical equivalent difference across the visits did not differ significantly between Groups 1 and Group 2 in children whose birth weight was <1500 g (P = 0.247) and those who had more than 1500 g (P = 0.748), in those with gestational age between 20 and 30 weeks (P = 0.215) compared to those> 30 weeks (P = 0.602). CONCLUSION: No difference in the progression of myopia was noted in eyes that underwent additional LSV following laser photocoagulation in one eye and laser alone in the fellow eye.

Incidence, management, and visual outcomes in pediatric endophthalmitis following cataract surgery by a single surgeon.

PURPOSE: To report the incidence of endophthalmitis following cataract surgery by a single surgeon in children and to describe its microbiological profile, management, and visual outcomes. METHODS: The medical records of patients who underwent cataract surgery performed by a single surgeon between January 2000 and December 2012 were retrospectively reviewed to identify those with postoperative endophthalmitis. The primary goals of the study were to describe the incidence of endophthalmitis, microbiological profile, and measure visual acuity after management. RESULTS: A total of 2,390 cataract surgeries were performed during the study period. The overall endophthalmitis rate during the study period was 0.376% (95% CI, 0.357-0.395). Of the 9 cases of postoperative endophthalmitis identified, 8 had a median duration of 2.5 days between time of surgery and diagnosis. The common presenting symptoms were pain and redness. Of the 5 cases in which early vitrectomy was performed, 4 showed good visual recovery at final follow-up visit. Both Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms were seen equally. Culture-positive results were seen in 4 patients, the majority of which showed Acinetobacter calcoaceticus. Most of the organisms were resistant to ceftazidime. CONCLUSIONS: Endophthalmitis following pediatric cataract surgery is rare but occurs rapidly and can cause severe loss of vision. Early recognition and treatment can help in salvaging the vision.

Vincristine-Induced Neuropathy Presenting as Ptosis and Ophthalmoplegia in a 2-Year-Old Boy.

Vincristine is used in the treatment of leukemias, solid tumors, and lymphomas. A case of a 2-year-old boy undergoing treatment for leukemia who developed sudden onset bilateral ptosis and ophthalmoplegia along with generalized neuropathy due to vincristine's neurotoxic effects is presented. He was successfully treated with pyridoxine and pyridostigmine. The possible mechanisms of action and the treatment for vincristine-induced neuropathy are discussed. Prompt treatment and close follow-up is needed, especially in children because prolonged ptosis and motility restriction may have a profound effect on a child's visual function.

Vision Loss due to Central Retinal Artery Occlusion Following Embolization in a Case of a Giant Juvenile Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma.

Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA) is a benign, vascular, and locally aggressive tumor that arises in the nasal cavity, extending into the nasopharynx and often in to the orbit. It may rarely present to the ophthalmologist with proptosis and optic neuropathy. Preoperative embolization of JNA is done before surgical resection. In this communication, the authors report a rare occurrence of ipsilateral central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) following embolization with polyvinyl alcohol in a 13-year-old boy with right-sided JNA. Retrospective review of the angiograms pointed out to a suspicious communication between the external carotid artery and the ophthalmic vessels. Pre-embolization detailed study of the angiograms is necessary to avoid such devastating complications. Although rare, vision loss is a possible complication arising from embolization of nasopharyngeal and intracranial tumors, and all patients undergoing these procedures should be informed of the risk of visual loss because it has a lasting impact on the quality of life.